MountainViews: Info on Benwiskin (514m) in area Dartry Mountains

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Dartry Mountains Area

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Maximum height for area: 647 metres

Summits in area: 28

OS Map(s): 16, 17, 25, 26 for all tops

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Benwiskin Mountain	Sligo County
Height: 514 metres	OS 1/50k Mapsheet: 16 for top
Grid Ref: G72347 49116	Latitude: 54.389909 Longitude: -8.426442
ITM: 572302 849116	Prominence: 39m Isolation: 2.8km
This peak is remarkable for its wave-like profile when seen from near Ballintrillick. Benwiskin is the 429th highest summit in Ireland. Our data has reached 95% of the goal for this summit. (Details)

COMMENTS for Benwiskin

MountainViews.ie Picture about mountain Benwiskin in area Dartry Mountains, County Sligo, Ireland

Picture: Benwiskin by Richard Cyganiak (CreativeCommonsLicence)) Expand pics.

Once Inaccessible, this Beauty awaits you.

Short Summary created by CaptainVertigo 29 Oct 2010 With its stunning profile, often likened to a breaking wave, this gem of a mountain lies at the northern end of a lengthy broad topped ridge forming one leg of the Gleniff horseshoe. Views from the summit are spectacular. Long a hotbed of anti-walker sentiment, Gleniff, encouraged by Minister O'Cuiv, now permits strictly limited access to Benwiskin through a partly felled forest on its eastern slopes. Park at the forest entrance G736 488 (Point A). Follow track c 1km (taking left at forks) to turning bay at G726 482 (Point B). Head broadly South along stream/firebreak to G725 478 (Point C),and, emerging from the trees, turn West and up the VERY steep grassy slope of the ridge towards Spot Height 508 along an old fence, turning North before the fence ends. Utmost caution required on this section. Then walk the broad ridge to the summit taking in superb views of the ocean (and across to Donegal) West and North, and into Gleniff valley to the East. On the return journey view all the northern Dartry cliffs before retracing your route to the CarPark, or, continue South to Slievemore at the head of the valley. Be warned...getting down from the ridge to the forest will require great care. Wet conditions will make the grass very slippy. Don't be tempted to take a short cut directly from the summit to the Car Park. It looks easy but the slope steepens and there are cliff like drops near the forest. Furthermore, the tempting land to the North of the forest is "out of bounds" (Map O.S 16)

Point A: G736 488	Point B: G726 482	Point C: G725 478
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Comment Rating (4.50)

Picture: Benwiskin from southern end of Benbulbin ridge Expand pics.

by eflanaga 15 Mar 2006 (Climbed Sunday 13th March) After leaving Benbulbin summit (See for first part of walk) I followed a bearing of 134 degrees SE, ensuring I steered well clear of the cliff edge, for 2k then switched to a bearing of 62 degrees NE for a further 1.7k which lined me up for a 2.4k walk to Spot Height 508m (G719479 (Point D)) which marks the start of Benwiskin’s ridge. It’s a further 1.4K to its summit. Poor visibility (sometimes dropping to around 10 metres) rain and biting wind persisted right up until I neared the Spot Height. After such a long trudge with nothing to see but peat hags I was feeling somewhat miserable and sorry for myself until suddenly the mist cleared before me revealing Benwiskin and the Sligo coast in all its glory. Fantastic views even on a murky day. The walk across the ridge to the summit is quite pleasant, slightly marshy at times and one or two peat trenches to negotiate, but otherwise no access problems or warning signs to be seen. The ridge plummets to your right down into the beautiful u-shaped Gleniff valley. There are fence posts right along the length of the ridge but there is no wire attached to these until you near the summit. Approaching the summit from this direction means the mountain’s distinct and aesthetic profile as portrayed by other contributor’s pictures (below) is much less obvious. The summit itself is unremarkable with the fence being the only man made feature. However, the views from the top are extraordinary, even on a day when the Donegal coast across the bay was not clearly visible. I decided to take a fairly leisurely lunch here as the bitter coldness of the wind had abated a little. A hot drink, a sandwich and some fruit later all was relatively well in my hillwalking world and I was ready to face my third target – Slievemore.

Point D: G719 479

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Picture: benwisken to Donegal Bay Expand pics.

by gerrym 27 Jul 2008 The dramatic profile of Benwisken seems to have been overshadowed by the difficulties over access. These difficulties where very much in mind when planning a visit to the the plateau, from which Benwisken extends northward. I approached from Glencar - taking the opportunity to walk along the line of hills and cliffs to Kings Mtn and Benbulben on the way. A late start necessitated an overnight camp which happened to be at the head of Glendarragh (708456 (Point E))between Benbulben and Benwisken (where the pic was taken - fairly late in the evening)

Come light i continued to circle around Glendarragh, enjoying a brief encounter with two playful fox cubs. Despite the sunlight in the valley below mist was racing over the high ground, coming up from the Glencar side. I climbed up to the prominent point on the Gleniff side (725469 (Point F)) which is a subsidiary summit of Slievemore. This gave views steeply down into the valley from nearly 600m through the mist. The long ridge stretching out to Benwisken was well laid out from here, with Donegal Bay and the hills of Donegal providing the backdrop. There is a drop along the cliff edge and a slight rise to pt. 508m, then an easy stroll along the broad ridge itself. Pass an area of peat hags, pools of water and follow a vechile track through the grass beside a line of old bleached fence posts. This walk is a joy with views to Benbulben to the west and Truskmore and Tievebaun to the east. The last bit of the hill (beyond the top) is fenced (with a pile of new posts and wire waiting to be erected). The fence can be followed to the edge for cracking views over the lowland below, across Donegal Bay and to most of the hills of the county, with the Bluestacks to the fore along with a cloud capped Slieve League and i am certain the Sperrin mtns. To the S i had Mayo in vision out towards Belmullet.

I did see a quad bike in the valley below on the return leg but as i did not cross any fences i feel there was no need to worry about trespassing. A long trek out and back but worth it for the views.

Point E: G708 456

Point F: G725 469

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(Comment Rating 4.33) Your Score: Very useful << >>Average

by SeanC 5 Mar 2006 A lovely access to Benwiskin is to climb Benbulben from the Grange side and to walk across the mountain top (fairly flat) straight over to Benwiskin. The climb up Ben Bulben takes about 1 hour and the walk across to the summit of Benwiskin about 1.5 hours. On a clear day (and one should be careful as the mist descends very quickly and frequently) the views in every direction are spectacular.

As one nears the summit of Benwiskin, there is fencing on one side (Mr Bull's I presume) but the summit is fully accessible and thankfully the no trespassing sign which greeted me the first time I did this climb (about 1 year ago) is gone.

On the way down, one can actually descend Benwiskin (away from the Bull McCabe side which is in the Gleniff horseshoe) into the shadow of Benbulben. Small roads lead back to the main road after another hour or so. The views of Benbulben are very special as one walks around the mountain. If posssible, having two cars will avoid the need to walk along the main road back to your car.

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Picture: Looking north from Slievemore to Benwiskin, Gleniff valley to the right Expand pics.

by wicklore 13 Sep 2009 I followed eflanaga's route taking in Benbulbin, Benwiskin and Slievemore. It was a long hike and I measured it at about 20 kms return. After chatting to a family on Benbulbin for a few minutes I didn't see another person for the rest of the day. The walk to Benwiskin is long and hard, with rough ground and a lack of a path. I was tired when I reached Benwiskin, and there was still the return journey!

The views were stunning, especially along the cliffs from Slievemore to Benwiskin. I was quite alert for angry farmers as I neared Benwiskin, but I never met a soul. The summit of Benwiskin still has the unused spars and rolled up fencing referred to by gerrym a year ago.

Something that struck me was the hundreds of holes across the bog all along the route. It is like the ground collapsed, leaving behind holes everywhere. Many of them are only a few feet deep but quite a few are 10 feet or deeper. Most have gradual slopes, but more than a few were steep and dangerous looking. One at G726 463 (Point G) was about 20 feet deep with steep sides. Be warned!

Benwiskin was a thrill to have accomplished, both because of the long route to get there, and the sense of urgency to avoid angry landowners. It is interesting to note that at no point along this route is there any signs or other notice that this is private property. Therefore I'm not even sure if the route from Benbulbin crosses any disputed access areas.

Point G: G726 463

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Pleasant route from Glendarragh

by Wildcat 14 Feb 2013 Drive along a series of side roads from Grange and find your way past the waterworks to Glendarragh, the glen between Benbulbin and Benwiskin. There's a large parking area beside Luke's Bridge (grid ref 698473 (Point H)). Just beyond the bridge, take the left fork and follow the surfaced road eastwards (towards Benwiskin) as far as grid ref 707472 (Point I), where the road crosses the stream by bridge. A gravel track on the left continues towards the base of the hill. Follow this until it does a right-angle bend southwards where you should leave the track and cross tussocky and rather wet ground (still heading east). At 290m, the gradient becomes steeper and the ground improves. Go directly uphill. There's a fence on the left but it bears left across the hillside so there's no need to cross it. The steeper section eases above 440m and a pleasant walk leads up to the 508m top (grid ref 719479 (Point D)), with great views all around. There are some interesting holes in the ground (dolines) near the col south of the 508m top. The route to Benwiskin is clear and easy, with occasional sections of path - just head northwards along the broad ridge, with peat hags generally easily avoided. You'll pass a lovely little pond by the cliff edge (grid ref 721486 (Point J)) then there's the final rise to the summit (514m, grid ref 724491 (Point K)), with a fence on the right. To appreciate the extraordinary northwestern cliffs would require crossing a fence easily and continuing northwards to grid ref 725493 (Point L). Although there were no 'keep out' signs (2 February 2013), this land may be part of Bull McSharry's farm! It may be best to view the cliffs from a distance! From the summit, return to Luke's Bridge by the same route.

Point H: G698 473	Point I: G707 472	Point D: G719 479
Point J: G721 486	Point K: G724 491	Point L: G725 493
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